High-fidelity validation with smart grid modelling complexity: considerations on emerging solutions

The continued integration of increased volumes of distributed energy resources and flexibility services into power networks across the world is introducing increasing complexity into system operations. With the growing number and dimensions of complexity, modelling of smart grids for simulation is becoming more demanding. In particular, achieving high-fidelity validation of such complex cyber-physical systems is growing in importance and in scale of challenge. Coordinated real-time simulation across multiple platforms, termed geographically distributed simulations (GDS), paves a new pathway for high-fidelity validation of large-scale smart grids. Furthermore, the integration of cloud solutions enables efficient initialization of simulations and ensures secure data communications among GDS participants. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of different types of real-time simulation concepts and explains how they can best be utilized to realize GDS with enhanced computational capability. Subsequently, this paper summarizes the applicability of GDS, specifically emphasizing on cloud-based GDS, to facilitate high-fidelity validation of complex smart grids.